confisum, si conjuratio valuisset, facile apud illos principem se fore.

[94] That is, in the year B.C. 64, or 690 after the building of the city.
[95] _Necessitudo_, 'a close connection' or 'friendship' is commonly
distinguished from _necessitas_, 'necessity,' or 'a compulsory
circumstance;' but the two words are often confounded with each
other, as here, and subsequently in this chapter, _necessitudo_ is
used in the sense of _necessitas_.
[96] For the difference between _plures_ and _complures_, see
Zumpt, S 65.
[97] _Juventus pleraque_, 'most young men.' Commonly the plural
_plerique_ only is used; but see Zumpt, S 103.
[98] _Ea tempestate_, an old-fashioned expression, such as Sallust is
fond of, for _eo tempore_; for in ordinary Latinity, _tempestas_
is used only in the sense of 'storm' or 'tempest.'
[99] M. Licinius Crassus had been consul several years before (B.C.
70), together with Cn. Pompey, and enjoyed considerable popularity
both on account of his former practical usefulness in the state, and
on account of his colossal wealth, which he used with proper
discretion.

18. Sed antea[100] item conjuravere pauci contra rem publicam, in quibus
Catilina fuit; de qua[101] quam verissime potero, dicam. L. Tullo et
M. Lepido consulibus,[102] P. Autronius et P. Sulla designati consules,
legibus ambitus interrogati[103] poenas dederant. Post paulo[104]
Catilina, pecuniarum repetundarum reus,[105] prohibitus erat consulatum
petere, quod intra legitimos dies profiteri[106] nequiverat. Erat eodem
tempore Gn. Piso, adolescens nobilis, summae audaciae, egens, factiosus,
quem ad perturbandam rem publicam inopia atque mali mores stimulabant.
Cum hoc Catilina et Autronius circiter Nonas Decembres consilio